'Significant potential' to expand the scope of NI arable farming - specialist
There is a growing belief that arable farming can play an important role across agriculture in Northern Ireland.
“This is particularly in the context of a mixed farming model,” commented Agri-Food and Biosciences’ Institute (AFBI) land management specialist, Dr. Paul Cottney,
“Our studies have shown how many organic manures in addition to their nutrient offset value can also improve spring barley yields over that of bagged fertiliser whilst providing legacy nutrients for future crops, meaning they have a significant monetary value.
“This is important to help reduce the cost of production for spring cereals and improve profitability.”
Cottney made these comments at an an arable crop evening, held recently by AFBI at its Crossnacreevy plant testing centre in north Co. Down.
Recent years have seen the area of land dedicated to arable production in Northern Ireland decrease significantly.
The sector is now very much dominated by a relatively small number of bespoke growers.
Arable production currently accounts for 5% of the total land area (one million hectares) farmed in Northern Ireland. This is down from the 15% figure that would have been the norm a number of decades ago.
The Protein Aid Scheme, which was introduced by former Stormont Agriculture Minister, Edwin Poots in 2021, has encouraged a select number of growers to grow break crops, including: beans, peas and lupins:
According to Dr. Cottney, AFBI is reviewing the impact made by the Protein Aid measure, with a legacy report be submitted to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs later in the year.
He said: “The work got underway in 2024.
"We already know that beans will outperform spring cereal crops financially and environmentally. For example, beans will attract higher numbers of pollinating insects.
“It will be up to staff within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to reach their own conclusions regarding the final content of the legacy report and, thereafter, to assess the merits of further supporting a Protein Aid support measure.”
The AFBI specialist added that there is "significant potential" to increase the range of crops grown in Northern Ireland.
He said: "Cover crops, particularly those planted early in August, have a role to play in reducing levels of nutrient leaching from land while also helping to build up soil organic matter levels.
“AFBI is also looking at the potential of inter-cropping, or also known the asbi-cropping of peas and beans with a spring cereal as a way of producing alternative wholecrop forages high in protein.
“If the studies show this is viable and successful, this could facilitate a greater uptake of protein crop production for mixed farms."
